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Education Rickshaw | International Education Blog - Education & Personal Development
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Direct Instruction Motivation Part 1: Keep It Moving – Education Rickshaw
This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its structure, pace, and design motivate kids better than any other system. Momentum is fragile. Linger too long, and you’ll lose them. Ask a question the…
Steplab Coaching Ambassador Program, North America – Education Rickshaw
As you're thinking about your PD for school year 2025-26, I recommend the Steplab Ambassador Program. My colleagues and I will teach you how to coach and use our tools to make efficient and effective instruction come to life in your school. "My Steplab Ambassador experience has been a meaningful journey, providing the essential structure I need,…
S4E35: Stephanie Stollar, Diane Kinder, and Marcy Stein on MTSS and Direct Instruction – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of The Direct Instruction Podcast - cross-posted on Progressively Incorrect - I’m joined by Stephanie Stollar, Diane Kinder, and Marcy Stein—three educators and researchers whose work intersects at the heart of effective instruction and systems-level change. After engaging conversations with each of them around Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and the role…
Science of Reading Meets Explicit Instruction – Education Rickshaw
I'm an advocate for evidence-based instruction, and one of the few shining areas in that space is early reading. The science of reading provides a wealth of insights into how the mind learns to decode, comprehend, and engage with text. But simply knowing what goes into a science-based literacy block or textbook isn’t enough—students require…
Maximizing Attention and Teacher Talk (Webinar Recording) – Education Rickshaw
If you follow this blog, you will know that I produce a lot of free content for teachers and instructional leaders. Subscribing gets you direct access to my podcast, Progressively Incorrect, plus information about upcoming events that are worth your time. I recently recorded this webinar with Blake Harvard, the author of Do I Have Your…
S4E34: Jonah Davids on the Debates Over Restorative Justice and SEL – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Jonah Davids. Jonah and I met while participating in a panel discussion around declining behavior in schools (listen here), which led me to invite him to discuss the evidence base behind Restorative Justice and Social-Emotional approaches in education. Are we on track or has there been…
Anything but boring: The power of direct instruction – Education Rickshaw
Something of a movement is brewing in education these days. A renewed interest in the science of how kids learn has led to greater adoption of effective teaching principles: We should regulate student attention, manage the cognitive load of tasks, over-practice concepts with students, and use student responses to adjust lessons. This is called direct…
When something matters, we make time for it – Education Rickshaw
I'm often told that schools don't have time to focus on teaching and learning. The reality is they don’t make time. Instructional coaching doesn’t demand a ton of time—it takes just 20-30 minutes to deliver a sharp and purposeful feedback session around a single, granular action step. Done right, it not only improves instruction but…
S4E33: Peps Mccrea on Great Teaching and Human Flourishing – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I am delighted to host Peps Mccrea, the Director of Education at Steplab and the mind behind the must-read online newsletter, Evidence Snacks. Peps has dedicated his career to improving education through evidence-based practices. His latest project includes Great Teaching, Unpacked, a Netflix-style documentary that is pushing the boundaries…
Song-and-Dance Consulting – Education Rickshaw
If you're under 30—or as chronically online as I am—you will know the YouTube influencer, Mr. Beast. Regardless of whether you have an opinion of Mr. Beast, he has some interesting things to say about consultants: Consultants are literally cheat codes. Need to make the world's largest slice of cake? Start off by calling the…
Harnessing Attention and Explaining Better – Education Rickshaw
Blake Harvard, a teacher and author of the best-selling book, Do I have your attention?, and I share an obsession with improving teaching through evidence-based practices. A major focus of both of our work is the translation of principles of learning science into practical strategies that can be used in tomorrow's lesson. You can hear…
The Direct Instruction Podcast and Conference – Education Rickshaw
Over the past year, I have released 10 episodes of The Direct Instruction Podcast. It has been well received, and my hope is that it has inspired discussion not just about the delivery of instruction, but the design of effective materials and the organization of effective schools. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh1xxmQ8V6XInWAHACcvXJEVVNESodLZF&si=LfH1CKRdf0IgqSmh Listen to The Direct Instruction Podcast: SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon…
S4E32: Rachel Ball on Scaffolded Instruction and Adaptive Teaching – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I am delighted to host Rachel Ball, Coaching Development Lead at Steplab and a passionate advocate for effective teaching based on the science of learning. Rachel will explore her new book, The Scaffolding Effect, and the Explicit Instruction Conference we are both keynoting in New Mexico (sign up here!).…
Minimally Guided Instruction Doesn’t Work in Math, Either – Education Rickshaw
Just last week I ran an instructional coaching intensive in Philadelphia with my colleagues at Steplab. If you haven't heard of Steplab, I would sincerely hope you reach out. Several attendees, including from The Writing Revolution and The Reading League, called it the best training they'd ever attended. It is no surprise why so many…
A Refreshing Case for Explicit Instruction – Education Rickshaw
I was happy to see a fantastic and thorough review of my book, Just Tell Them, in the Learning & the Brain blog. This comes after I just presented at Learning & the Brain alongside folks like Doug Lemov, Haili Hughes and Dan Willingham (click those links for podcasts of mine that they each featured…
Teacher PD Without Ice Breakers – Education Rickshaw
I was recently invited onto Chris Baker's podcast/YouTube hybrid series, Leadership Launchpad, to discuss some of the things I have learned over the last few years about consulting and PD. It is, surprisingly, a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times! https://youtu.be/4bGfBc6iY98?si=AXk9cmlM1esrxth0 I am quite proud of the result, and I think you'll appreciate some…
S4E31: Laura Stam on Integrating Explicit Teaching Practices into Elementary Classrooms – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m delighted to host Laura Stam, a dedicated advocate for the Science of Reading and Direct Instruction. Laura will share her expertise on designing and curating resources to integrate content and vocabulary into literacy, discuss new shifts in her thinking and teaching, and offer insights into how structured teaching…
Explicit instruction is essential – especially for students with learning disabilities like dyscalculia – Education Rickshaw
In the latest episode of the Unlocking Dyscalculia podcast, Adrianne Meldrum sits down with Dr. Zach Groshell, author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching, to explore why direct, well-scaffolded teaching is essential—especially for students with learning disabilities like dyscalculia. Article continued here. https://youtu.be/ExvfomGD93o
Building Thinking Classrooms is Repackaged Discovery Learning – Education Rickshaw
In education, nothing is truly new. Consider project-based learning, which made its debut in the 18th century under the guise of "The Project Method." Inquiry-based learning has similarly worn many hats over the years, from discovery learning to exploratory learning to experiential learning. As the veteran teachers have long said, everything old becomes new again.…
S4E30: Ronak Bhatt on Accelerated Learning and Homogeneous Grouping – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m honored to host Ronak Bhatt, the accomplished founder and school leader of TELRA Institute. Ronak will discuss how acceleration can open doors for learners, share his thoughts on the benefits and challenges of homogeneous grouping, and provide insights into experimental educational models that offer bold alternatives to traditional…
S4E29: Rachel Sewell on the Ingredients of Effective Professional Development – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I am delighted to host Rachel Sewell, Coaching Development Lead at Steplab and a passionate advocate for effective professional development. Rachel will explore the 14 mechanisms of effective professional development, including how they build knowledge, motivate educators, develop teaching techniques, and embed sustainable practices. Listen and subscribe to Progressively…
S4E28: Jonathan Regino on Curriculum Evaluation and Math Coaching – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I am thrilled to host Jonathan Regino, an innovative educator and instructional leader known for his expertise in curriculum adoption and math coaching. Jonathan is passionate about enhancing teaching practices and fostering impactful math learning experiences. Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect on… SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress Jon will share his…
Book Club Materials for Just Tell Them – Education Rickshaw
By popular request, I am excited to share some resources for my book, Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching. These were created by my friend and fellow educator, Helen Reynolds. Helen is known for her overviews and planning templates for the education books she's currently reading. These are perfect to pair…
Projects have a time and a place, but PBL does not – Education Rickshaw
Project-based learning (PBL) enjoys widespread popularity in schools. There is an intuitive appeal to connecting classroom content to the “real world”, and we’re told projects are engaging and authentic. But in my visits to schools that champion PBL, these promises are rarely delivered. If projects are to take up precious class time, they must meet…
S4E27: Richard Mayer on the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning – Education Rickshaw
Today, I am thrilled to host Richard Mayer on Progressively Incorrect, a distinguished educational psychologist and researcher known worldwide for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding how we learn. Rich brings a wealth of knowledge and a sharp focus on multimedia learning, generative learning, and evidence-based critiques of discovery learning. Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect…
S4E26: Lynn Gaffney on Bridging Leadership and the Science of Learning – Education Rickshaw
Today, I am thrilled to host Lynn Gaffney on Progressively Incorrect, a passionate educator and leader known for her deep commitment to bridging research and practice in schools. Lynn brings a wealth of experience and a sharp focus on the science of learning, using evidence-informed strategies to drive meaningful outcomes for students and teachers alike.…
The Problem with “Sit and Get” PD and Conventional Instructional Coaching – Education Rickshaw
The problem with conventional "sit and get" PD is that it doesn't often contain the mechanisms that lead to adoption of effective techniques. Listening to someone talk about "best practice" is far from a guarantee that this information, no matter how persuasive, will transfer into the classroom. Instructional coaching is perhaps the best evidenced solution…
Webinar Recording for: Planning for Research Based Teaching Strategies – Education Rickshaw
If you follow this blog, you will know that I produce a lot of free content for teachers and instructional leaders. You can get my podcast, Progressively Incorrect, direct to your inbox, and you can get discounts to conferences that I put on. If you're the latter, I recommend you e-mail hello@steplab.co and mention that…
S4E25: Daisy Christodoulou on Assessment Practices and Challenges – Education Rickshaw
Today, I am thrilled to host Daisy Christodoulou, an esteemed author and education expert renowned for her groundbreaking work on curriculum design and assessment. Daisy's thought-provoking insights have reshaped the way educators approach teaching, and her books, including "Seven Myths About Education," have become essential reads in the field. In this episode, Daisy will delve…
Great Teaching is Possible, Even at Your School – Education Rickshaw
As explicit instruction takes off in schools off the heels of Sold a Story and the Science of Reading, leaders are looking for ways to embed key principles into their teaching framework. I was interviewed in three podcasts recently that, I believe, do a good job at explaining explicit instruction. It's not lecturing. It's not…
S4E24: Randi Saulter and Ann Baum on DI in Special Education Settings – Education Rickshaw
Today I am excited to be bringing you an episode of the DI podcast with Randi Saulter and Ann Baum. Randi and Ann are two passionate special education teachers who will take us through what Zig Engelmann called the “picky, picky” details of implementing DI in special education classrooms. This episode is chock full of…
Planning for Research Based Teaching Strategies – Education Rickshaw
I am putting on a lot of training events for teachers these days. If you would like to join my instructional coaching certificate program, check out the syllabus here. If you would like to attend one of the coaching conferences I'm putting on, check out my Steplab Events page here. This month's (free!) opportunity has…
S4E23: Faith Borkowsky and Judy Boksner on “What’s Hot” in Literacy – Education Rickshaw
Hi everyone, Zach Groshell here. Avid readers of my website will know that I was recently on a show called The Literacy View, which is also one of the podcasts in my listening rotation. It was with great excitement that I was able to snag hosts Judy and Faith for a very Literacy View episode…
Paul Kirschner Explains Explaining – Education Rickshaw
Did you know that my book (reviewed by Beanie Geoghegan here) has an amazing Forward by Paul A. Kirschner? Paul, of course, is a frequent guest of the podcast, the author of countless books and articles, and one of the most important cognitive psychologists in the history of education. Enjoy! EXPLAINING EXPLAINED Humans are (almost)…
S4E22: J.R. Wilson and Barry Garelick on Engagement and Conceptual Teaching in Math – Education Rickshaw
Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect. Fans of my blogs might remember the interview series that J.R. Wilson and Barry Garelick provided around their book, Traditional Math. I'm excited to bring you the voices behind this common sense approach to math instruction. In our chat, we talk about a wide range of topics, including... 1. Breaking…
A New Training Program for High Impact Instructional Coaching – Education Rickshaw
Instructional coaching is considered the best evidenced form of professional learning (Boguslav & Goodrich, 2022). But implementing an effective instructional coaching program is difficult; it requires the ability to collect relevant information, diagnose next steps for teaching, and develop teachers’ skills through questioning, modeling, and deliberate practice. To help coaches and leaders implement high impact…
S4E20: Doug Carnine on Advocacy for Evidence – Education Rickshaw
A few years ago, I came upon a paper titled, "Why Educators Resist Effective Practices" with the provocative subheading, And What It Would Take to Make EducationMore Like Medicine. It was written by Douglas Carnine, who I would come to learn was not only one of the most important voices in advocacy for evidence-based education,…
Robert Pondiscio’s The Next 30 Years – Education Rickshaw
I've been reading the writing of Robert Pondiscio for some time. I think the first article that got me hooked on his ideas was titled, Direct Instruction: The Rodney Dangerfield of Curriculum, which featured some commentary by my most sensible education professor, Marcy Stein. In an unlikely turn of events, I found myself presenting alongside…
ONlit Harnesses the Science of Learning – Education Rickshaw
I was recently invited by ONlit to present on the chapters that I co-wrote for the book, Harnessing the Science of Learning, a compilation book led by Nathaniel Swain and featuring Pamela Snow and others. In this recording, we cover important ground around cognitive load theory and explicit instruction. My hope is that schools that…
Precision Teaching Webinar Recording – Education Rickshaw
I had a blast this week presenting with Morningside Academy's Daniel Carroll. Below you can find the recording. If you're an instructional coach, please also consider participating in some in-person or online training through Steplab. It is the best coaching PD there is, hands down. And if you liked this and want to learn more…